Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-12-23


this retreat, sacred to learning and medi-
t&tion, was now transformed, in the man
ner peculiar to the operations of fate, into
Chamber or Cave of Despair, peopled by
psoPstrous fiends who accused him of
wasting and throwing away the property
entrusted to his charge. For man of
honour and integrity to lose trust money,
the fortunes of wards and children, is a
very dreadful thing. By Gripping himself
sud living in poverty he might, in course
of years, replace the money. But he was
now old he would certainly reach the al
otted term long before the money could
he replaced. He would bequeath his lands,
80 make up the amount, for Tom and
Cicely and then Sibyl would have moth
ing. And to think that the great and
honorable and prosperous company, which
he himself founded and endowed with the
magnificent business created by his father
aad chrstened with the name of his father,
should break Is it u light thing to hear
ones name associated with failures and
bankruptcy and the curses of thousands.
Sibyl came to console him by all the en-
Tearing acts and the soothing words at
her command.
60, child" he replied go, Sibyl,
and leave me alone. The family is dis
graced. We can never hold up our heads
again. have lost the fortunes placed in
my charge. | am defaulter. Yours is
lost child as well as Toms and Cicely's.
Leave me alone to face the disaster"
Theu Lady Augusta came to him, bring
ing, in token of peace, the Message con-
corning the Bank Book.
Mr.. Brudenel scoffed at that Message /;
and indeed Bank Book seems futile
thing in itself with which to retrieve a
Loss of five and thirty thousand pounds.
One might as well retrieve lost battle by
collecting the spent cartridges, Lady Au-
Gusta injured him to obey in the name of
che great and wise LAX Ibn Menelek. He
derded that sacred name. She implored
him for the sake of Paul, their guest, their
guide, their friend, to obey. He blasphem-
ed the name of Paul.
He shall CO." cried Mr.. Brudenel !;
Paul shall go this very day. Since his
Friends are unwilling or unable to avert
disaster, let him 60 | want not their
Kind of friendship any longer, Augusta :;
we have been tormented all our lives by
the apathy, the ingratitude, and the mock
cry of those whom we have striven to
help. What did Emanuel Chicks spirits
or Lavinia's either-ever do for us !?
Nothing. We sacrificed our lives for them
we tolerated all kinds of selfseeking
/
What have Pauls Friends done for US ~
n spite of his disappointments, Mr.. Bru-
ienel still believed fervently in the spirits
and their messages, as well as in the Seer
OF Abyssinia. Tell him, Augusta, that
am bitterly disappointed in him. He had
better pack up and leave us. | want to
see him no mroe. His Friends must have
Suown what was wrong. They can ami
lilete space, they can transport things
and people two thousand miles in q mo-
ment. Yet they could not interpose to
save these innocent children from losing
their all. And he calls it trifling matter I!
Tell him he may go, my dear. When he
IL gone we will have nothing more to do
with the other world or with those in
communion with 1t. or with those who
have acquired powers over the spirits.
will sell my library-we will sell this
house and go and live in some country
cottage so as to save for the children some
Of their fortune back again. And we will
40 to Church, Augusta, like ohter folks,
satisfied with what they know, That shall
be enough for us, my dear. Tell Paul he
may go this very day AS for sending for
the Bank Book, might as we'll take and
draw cheque for the whole five and thir-
" thousand pounds. Go, my dear, and
leave me alone, since ] am deserted by
those who ought TO help leave me to
think. if l can, what may still be done"
Lady Augusta withdrew in tears and
reported UnlS COUUuUdCy. Anu presently
they all retired in various directions-Li-
byl sat somewhere apart and the sound of
the piano and her singing was not heard
CiCely went to her room where Hetty was
waiting for her, but there WAS little read
ing done-mostly the two girls talked over
what had happened, and Cicely consider
ed the subject of Poverty, as applied to
herself, partly in the light of Hettys ex-
perience, which was certainly wide and
deep and also most discouraging, and
partly from speculative point of view,
ieducing its lessons and finding its Con
solations, on which the girl who had never
known its pains discoursed knowingly in
the manner of Paul to the other who had
known those pains and pnches. AS for
Tom, he was consulting the family solicit
tors.
Paul himself was out. He went, in fact
10 spend the morning with his amiable
friend in Beaumont street, about whom
FOR his OWE reasons, he did not tell any.
body.
On his return at one o'clock, he met 81
byl crossing the hall.
Herr Paulus," she said regarding him
with the utmost severity, 81 wish to tel
you that nothing in the whole history OF
the Impostors who have been the curse OF
this house has ever inspired me with more
disgust than your conduct this morning. ,
Paul bowed gravely, putting his heels
together in the foreign fashion. He was
clad in his magnificent fur lined great
coat, and, with his hat in his hand looked
ike some young foreign Prince or Poten
tate. But Sibyl regarded not his looks.
Had you really possessed those powers
which you clam"-Paul raised his eye
0rows slightly-"you would have prevent
ed this calamity. Otherwise you would
deserve TO be turned out of doors with ig
nominy for your treachery. That you
nave not done so procaims aloud that you
are an impOstor." Sibyl was really aston
ished at her own freedom of speech, anC
went on encouraged Your affectatior
of superiority to money consideration.
also proves your trickery. 1t was over
done, sir. 1t was brutal. 1t was under
Ored" Paul Redeemed at the last word
which perhaps touched him in tender
place; mo gentleman could have be
haved in that manner. | have Away,
strongly suspected and dislked you now
] despise you. That is all, Heer Paulus
that have to say. Except" she added
that | trust my fathers eyes may b,
opened by this incident, and that we shal
sery soon indeed bid you farewell"
Again Paul bowed.
H.